Method and means for attaching a hair supplement

ABSTRACT

The method and means embodying this invention include fastening a hair supplement to a wearer&#39;&#39;s head in a semi-permanent manner by means of a plurality of spaced anchoring loops produced by joining together a plurality of strands of the wearer&#39;&#39;s own hair at a point in spaced relation to the wearer&#39;&#39;s head and passing an anchoring filament through each loop and an adjacent portion of the underside of the hair supplement thereby positively connecting the hair supplement to the wearer&#39;&#39;s head for relativley long periods of time. The joining together of the hair strands in the specific embodiment of the invention herein disclosed includes tying two sub-groups of hair strands together in the form of a knot and restricting relative movement of the hair strands forming the knot by applying thereto a free flowing, quick setting hypoallergenic liquid binding agent to prevent the knot from loosening or slipping thus providing substantially fixed anchor points for the anchoring filament attachment means.

[4 May21, 1974 United States Patent [1 1 Bretton [57] ABSTRACT The method and means embodying this invention include fastening a hair supplement to a wearers head METHOD AND MEANS FOR ATTACHING A f w in Y a P mfi m wmm .w hap m w nwe m hh s m y e h 00 Cal Bretton, Whitestone, NY. in a semi-permanent manner by means of a [73] Assrgnee: Allen Arthur Co., Inc., Minneapol s, spaced anchoring loops produced b a. plurality of strands of the wearer point in spaced relation to the wearer ing an anchoring filament throu adjacent portion of the underside of the hair su N 9 E .xn m T in. 9 H M-M2 P n U 0 SM N mm m Av MD. H..m FA H UN 7 mm.

ment thereby positively connecting the hair supple- 52 us. Cl. 132/53 mm to the wearers head for relativley long Periods 51 Im.c|.............................................A41 3/00 OftimeThejoiningtogetherofthehairstrandsinthe 5 Field f Search 2 5 5 5; 128/329 specific embodiment of the invention herein disclosed includes tying two sub-groups of hair strands to in the form of a knot and restrictin 1 ment of the hair strands formin [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3 605 761 M 132/5 thereto a free flowlng, quick settm 3,654,935 4/1972 132/53 hqmd bmdmg agent to prevent the k ing or slipping thus providing substantially fixed anchor points for the anchoring filament attachment means.

Primary Examiner-Louis G. Mancene Assistant Examiner-Gregory E. McNeill 5 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures METHOD AND MEANS FOR ATTACHING A HAIR SUPPLEMENT In the past it has been a problem for people who want to wear a hair supplement to fasten the same to their head in a comfortable and in a semi-permanent fashion. Velcron or Velcro strips have been used for this purpose as disclosed in Buzzelli U.S. Pat. No. 3,385,305 and Zuapa U.S. Pat. No. 3,476,122. The problem, of course, is to attach the Velcron or Velcro to the wearers head in a comfortable and secure fashion. Other inventors have used long hair plaits in order to provide means for anchoring the hair supplement to the head. Such plaits are exemplified by the U.S. Pat. Nos. to

' Mitchel 2,865,380 and to Allison 3,273,570. Other inventors have used hair clamping means such as the set screw type fastener shown in Holly, Pat. No. 3,612,071. The hair plait does not provide sufficiently positive anchoring to be satisfactory when a relatively large hair supplement is to be used which will cover the entire area of the head where the hair is thinning or has disappeared entirely. The clamps shown in the Holly Patent are uncomfortable and cumbersome and have not proved to be satisfactory when wearing a hat or when lying down.

It is the object to provide a relatively simple method and means for positively securing in a semi-permanent manner a hair supplement to the wearers head which will permit the wearer to swim, shower or engage in athletic activities without removing the supplement and without risk of the same coming loose or falling off.

It is a specific object to provide a method and means which incorporates the use ofa person's natural hair to anchor the hair supplement in a positive semipermanent manner which will permit the same to be worn comfortably for a period of 6 to 8 weeks without removal and permitting frequent hair washings or other activities.

More specifically, it is an object to provide a method and means for positively securing a hair supplement to the wearer's head which embodies joining together a group of natural hair strands in a manner to provide a plurality of spaced apart attachment loops through which attachment filament means may be passed in order to positively anchor respectively adjacent portions of the hair supplement to the wearers head.

Still more specifically it is an object of this invention to positively secure a hair supplement in place by means of a suitable quick setting liquid binding material which is hypoallergenic such as for example one of the cyano acrylates and which will positively join together a group of natural hair strands to provide the desired attachment loops.

These and other objects and advantages will more fully appear in the following description made in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein like reference characters refer to the same or similar parts throughout severalviews, and. in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a hair supplement in attached position on a wearer's head;

FlG. 2 is a top plan view ofa head showing a plurality of anchor points for attaching a hair supplement;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view showing the two subgroups of hair strands preparatory to tying the same together around the spacer element;

FIG. 4 shows the hair strands tied together around the spacer'element with the binding agent being applied thereto; and,

FIG. 5 shows an anchoring filament passing through a loop and attaching an adjacent portion of the hair supplement to the wearers head by means of such an attachment loop.

As illustrated in the accompanying drawing the natural strands of hair are used to form attachment loops for securing in a semi-permanent manner a hair supplement to the wearers head for relatively long periods of time such as for example, 6 weeks or more.

FIG. 2 illustrates a head which is'bald on top but has sufficient hair around the sides to provide the required hair strands for forming the attachment loops. The completed loops are designated by the numeral 10 and usually 6 to 8 such loops are required to securely hold the hair supplement in place. 4

The method of forming the loop is to initially select a group of approximately 30 strands of natural hair and to divide this group into substantially equal sub-groups 11a and llb as best shown in FIG. 3. An elongated spacer element 12 is inserted between the two subgroups and'the strands of the sub-groups are then securely tied together into a knot 10a to form the loop around the spacer element. The spacer element 12 forms an opening under the knot 10a and a suitable binding agent positively prevents the strands of hair forming the knot from slipping. Each loop provides a substantially fixed anchor point through which an anchoring filament 13 may be passed after removal of the spacer element 12.

Binding agent or binding material as used herein is defined as any material that restricts relative movement of anything placed within its mass.

The binding agent is a free flowing, quick setting hypoallergenic liquid material which in the form of the invention disclosed herein will permeate and embloc the area between the strands forming the knot to restrict any relative movement of said hair strands within the mass of the binding agent to positively prevent the knot from loosening or slipping. It is important that the strands of hair forming each attachment loop be held firmly in place in order to stabilize the loop size and provide a substantially fixed anchor point for the anchoring filament attached thereto. The binding material serves as a mechanical agent to restrict relative movement of the strands of hair forming the knot. It is believed that a number of materials would have the desired properties required for a suitable binding agent which as stated above must be free flowing, quick set ting and hypoallergenic. It must be free flowingin order to quickly surround the strands of hair forming the knot before it sets into a hardened mass. It must be quick setting in order to quickly provide the desired fixed anchor point and thus expedite the anchoring operation; and, it'must be hypoallergenic to minimize the chance of possible skin irritation. Several of the cyano acrylates have been found suitable for this purpose. For example, ethyl and methyl cyano acrylate stabilized with sulfa dioxide have been found to be satisfactory.

The anchoring filament 13 is illustrated in the form of nylon thread which may be initially anchored at one end of the mat or base b of the hair supplement 5 and is then passed through the attachment loop 10.

In the form shown each of the attachment loops 10 are individually tied to an adjacent portion of the hair supplement to provide approximately six to eight positively secured attachment points around the outer portion of the base b of the supplement. The central front edge portion of the supplement may have a hypoallergenic double faced adhesive tape 14 for attaching it directly to the skin at the forehead area where the natural hair has usually disappeared entirely.

It will be seen that I have provided a method and means for positively securing a hair supplement to a wearers head by forming a plurality of attachment loops from the wearers natural hair and securing the base of the supplement to the head by means of an anchoring filament passed through said loops and through adjacent portions of the base of the supplement. This permits the wearer to wear the supplement continuously for long-periods of time and permits him to wash the hair frequently, 3 or 4 times a week, to go swimming and'to exercise without loosening the attachment means.

As the wearers natural hair grows the loops will, of course, grow out from the wearers head and the anchor points will loosen. This will require a removal and re-anchoring process in the same manner used originally and as previously described herein. A common period for continuous and permanent-attachment is y from 6 to 8 weeks and this has proved extremely satisfactory in extensive testing that has been conducted.

it will, of course, be understood that various changes may be made in the form details of this invention without departing from the scope thereof which is generally set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is: a l. The method of attaching to the head of a user a hairpiece supplement including a flexible base portion and a'plurality of-hair filaments secured to said base portion, comprising the steps of a. forming from the natural hair of.the user at spaced locations on the user's head a plurality of pairs of hair sub-groups;

b. tying together the free ends of each pair of the hair sub-groups into a knot spaced slightly from the user's head. thereby to define a knotted loop containing a filament-receiving opening; and

c. sewing the hair supplement to the users head by drawing a flexible anchoring filament in succession alternately through the filament-receiving openings of said loops and the base portion of said hairpiece supplement, whereby the hair supplement is positively connected with the user's head.

2. The method of attaching to the head of a user a hairpiece supplement'including a flexible base portion and a plurality of hair filaments secured to said base portion, comprising the steps of a. forming from the natural hair of the user at spaced locations on the user's head a plurality of pairs of hair sub-groups;

b. arranging a spacer rod between the hair subgroups of each pair immediately adjacent the head of the user;

c. bringing together the free ends of the hair subgroups of each pair about the spacer rod and tying the free ends of said sub-groups into a knot;

d. removing the spacer rod from the knotted hair subgroups, thereby forming for each pair of subgroups a knotted loop containing a filamentreceiving opening; and

e. sewing the'hair supplement to the users head by drawing a flexible anchoring filament in succession alternately through the filament-receiving openings of said loops and the base portion of said hairpiece supplement, whereby the hair supplement is positively connected with the user's head.

3. The method as recited in claim 2, and further including the step of applying to each of the hair subgroup knots prior to the removal of the corresponding spacer rod therefrom a fast-drying liquid binding adhesive, whereby the knotted sub-groups of hair are united to positively prevent loosening and separation.

4. Hair supplement means adapted for attachment with the head of the user, comprising a. a hair supplement including a flexible base portion and a plurality of hair filaments secured to said base portion;

b. a plurality of spaced discrete attachment loops each formed from a pair of sub-groups of the user's hair tied together in a knot to define-a positive 'anchor loop containing a filament-receiving opening; and

c. an anchoring filament inserted through the open .ing in each anchor loop and connected with the base portion of said hair supplement, thereby to securely fasten said supplement to the user's head.

5. Hair supplement means as defined in claim 3, and further including a binding agent applied to the hair knot to prevent loosening thereof, said binding agent comprising a fast-drying liquid adhesive. 

1. The method of attaching to the head of a user a hairpiece supplement including a flexible base portion and a plurality of hair filaments secured to said base portion, comprising the steps of a. forming from the natural hair of the user at spaced locations on the user''s head a plurality of pairs of hair sub-groups; b. tying together the free ends of each pair of the hair subgroups into a knot spaced slightly from the user''s head, thereby to define a knotted loop containing a filamentreceiving opening; and c. sewing the hair supplement to the user''s head by drawing a flexible anchoring filament in succession alternately through the filament-receiving openings of said loops and the base portion of said hairpiece supplement, whereby the hair supplement is positively connected with the user''s head.
 2. The method of attaching to the head of a user a hairpiece supplement including a flexible base portion and a plurality of hair filaments secured to said base portion, comprising the steps of a. forming from the natural hair of the user at spaced locations on the user''s head a plurality of pairs of hair sub-groups; b. arranging a spacer rod between the hair sub-groups of each pair immediately adjacent the head of the user; c. bringing together the free ends of the hair sub-groups of each pair about the spacer rod and tying the free ends of said sub-groups into a knot; d. removing the spacer rod from the knotted hair sub-groups, thereby forming for each pair of sub-groups a knotted loop containing a filament-receiving opening; and e. sewing the hair supplement to the user''s head by drawing a flexible anchoring filament in succession alternately through the filament-receiving openings of said loops and the base portion of said hairpiece supplement, whereby the hair supplement is positively connected with the user''s head.
 3. The method as recited in claim 2, and further including the step of applying to each of the hair sub-group knots prior to the removal of the corresponding spacer rod therefrom a fast-drying liquid binding adhesive, whereby the knotted sub-groups of hair are united to positively prevent loosening and separation.
 4. Hair supplement means adapted for attachment with the head of the user, comprising a. a hair supplement including a flexible base portion and a plurality of hair filaments secured to said base portion; b. a plurality of spaced discrete attachment loops each formed from a pair of sub-groups of the user''s hair tied together in a knot to define a positive anchor loop containing a filament-receiving opening; and c. an anchoring filament inserted through the opening in each anchor loop and connected with the base portion of said hair supplement, thereby to securely fasten said supplement to the user''s head.
 5. Hair supplement means as defined in claim 3, and further including a binding agent applied to the hair knot to prevent loosening thereof, said binding agent comprising a fast-drying liquid adhesive. 